Richard Nixon: Elections, Policies, and Watergate Scandal

Nixon

First U.S. president to resign in 1974.

Hubert Humphrey

Democrat candidate, LBJ's Vice President.

George Wallace

Third-party candidate from Alabama in 1968.

1972 Election

Nixon won decisively against George McGovern.

George McGovern

Democrat Senator from South Dakota, strong liberal.

Spiro Agnew

Vice President from 1969 to 1973.

Gerald Ford

Vice President from 1973 to 1974.

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency established during Nixon's presidency.

OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration created in 1970.

NOAA

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, established in 1970.

Ken Hughes

Historian associated with the Miller Center.

Stephen Ambrose

Biographer of Eisenhower and Nixon.

Rick Perlstein

Authored 'Nixonland', published in 2008.

Robert Dallek

Wrote 'Nixon and Kissinger: Partners in Power'.

John A. Farrell

Authored 'Richard Nixon: A Life' in 2017.

Henry Kissinger

Nixon's National Security Adviser and Secretary of State.

H.R. Haldeman

White House Chief of Staff, key domestic advisor.

John Ehrlichman

Top Domestic Policy Advisor during Nixon's presidency.

Pat Buchanan

Special Assistant and primary speechwriter for Nixon.

Watergate Scandal

Political scandal during Nixon's presidency, 1972-1974.

Vietnam War

American combat involvement from 1965 to 1973.

Korean War

Conflict involving U.S. troops, 1950-1953.

Nixon's Legacy

Marked by resignation and controversial political career.

Checkers Speech

1952 speech defending Nixon against corruption allegations.

House Un-American Activities Committee

Nixon gained fame for aggressive investigations.

Alger Hiss

Convicted of perjury, linked to Nixon's HUAC fame.

1960 Election

Nixon lost to John F. Kennedy.

1968 Election Victory

Nixon defeated Vice President Humphrey.

Eugene McCarthy

Challenged Humphrey in the 1968 Democratic primaries.

Robert Kennedy

Assassinated after winning California primary in 1968.

Democratic Party Disarray

Result of Kennedy's assassination and factional struggles.

Eugene McCarthy

Senator who faded in the 1968 election.

Hubert Humphrey

Won the Democratic nomination in 1968.

1968 Democratic Convention

Site of protests and police clashes in Chicago.

Silent Majority

Nixon's term for middle-class voters.

Nixon's Southern Strategy

Targeted Southern voters post-Civil Rights Act.

George Wallace

3rd Party candidate advocating segregation in 1968.

American Independent Party

Party George Wallace represented in 1968 election.

Electoral College

System determining presidential election outcomes.

House of Representatives

Could decide election if no majority won.

1972 Election

Nixon defeated George McGovern for presidency.

George McGovern

Advocated ending Vietnam War and social reforms.

New Federalism

Nixon's policy to decentralize federal power.

Revenue Sharing

Redirected federal funds to state and local governments.

State and Local Assistance Act of 1972

Provided $4 billion annually to local governments.

Family Assistance Plan (FAP)

Proposed welfare reform defeated by Congress.

Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)

Welfare program replaced by proposed FAP.

Executive Branch Reorganization

Nixon's failed attempt to reorganize government departments.

Henry Kissinger

Nixon's National Security Advisor and Secretary of State.

Spiro Agnew

Nixon's vice president who resigned in disgrace.

Gerald Ford

First non-elected vice president and president.

Nixon's Love for Foreign Policy

Nixon prioritized foreign affairs during his presidency.

Nixon in the Den

Reference to Nixon's foreign policy engagements.

Antiwar Protesters

Demonstrators opposing the Vietnam War.

Law and Order

Nixon's campaign focus on crime and stability.

Backlash of Civil Rights Act

Southern resistance to desegregation and civil rights.

Pro-segregation Policies

Wallace's stance during his governorship in Alabama.

Deep South

Region where Wallace gained electoral support.

Ford's Congressional Tenure

Served Michigan's 5th district from 1949-1973.

Berlin Wall

Symbol of Cold War division in Europe.

H.R. Haldeman

White House Chief of Staff under Nixon.

John Ehrlichman

Top Domestic Policy Advisor to Nixon.

William Rogers

Secretary of State during Nixon's presidency.

Melvin Laird

Secretary of Defense during Nixon's administration.

New Federalism

Nixon's approach to redistribute federal power.

Family Assistance Plan

Proposed income support for low-income families.

General Revenue Sharing

Federal funds distributed to state and local governments.

Executive Reorganization

Streamlining government operations under Nixon.

Gradualism

Slow implementation of policy changes.

Regulation and Social Legislation

Government oversight of social issues.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Agency enforcing pollution standards and research.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Agency ensuring worker safety and health.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Agency monitoring oceans and atmospheric conditions.

Clean Air Act

Legislation aimed at reducing air pollution.

Endangered Species Act of 1973

Law protecting threatened and endangered species.

Rachel Carson

Author of 'Silent Spring', raised pesticide awareness.

First Earth Day

Celebrated in 1970 to promote environmental protection.

Stagflation

Economic condition of stagnation and inflation.

OPEC Oil Embargo

1973 oil supply cut in response to U.S. actions.

Nixon Doctrine

U.S. allies to manage their own defense.

Vietnamization

Nixon's strategy to withdraw U.S. troops from Vietnam.

Henry Kissinger

Nixon's national security advisor and foreign policy architect.

My Lai Massacre

1968 incident revealing U.S. military atrocities.

Cambodia Expansion

Nixon's secret invasion leading to protests.

Kent State University Tragedy

1970 shooting of students protesting Cambodian invasion.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Legislation allowing military action in Vietnam.

War Powers Act

Limits presidential power to engage in military action.

Pentagon Papers

Documents revealing government deception about Vietnam War.

Plumbers

Special investigations unit to stop media leaks.

Daniel Ellsberg

Leaked Pentagon Papers in 1971.

Paris Peace Accord

1973 agreement to end Vietnam War.

Cease-fire

Agreement to halt fighting in Vietnam.

U.S. troop withdrawal

23,700 troops to leave Vietnam in 60 days.

Prisoners of war

North Vietnam to release U.S. POWs.

Henry Kissinger

Key diplomat in U.S.-Vietnam negotiations.

Détente

Easing of Cold War tensions between superpowers.

Linkage Policy

Improving relations with USSR and China for Vietnam.

Triangular Diplomacy

U.S. strategy exploiting Sino-Soviet tensions.

SALT I Treaty

1972 arms control agreement between superpowers.

Operation Intercept

Drug enforcement operation along U.S.-Mexico border.